Reinstatement of agriculture and horticulture apprenticeship incentives

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has confirmed that the Tools for your Trade and Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher will be retained.

In a statement, Ms Gillard said: The Rudd Government has committed to maintaining the extension of the Tools for your Trade and Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher programs to ensure agricultural and horticultural apprentices remain eligible.

There will be no change to eligibility criteria for these apprentices.

Consistent with this commitment, Australian Apprentices undertaking a Cert II, III and IV qualification in agriculture or, if in a rural or regional area, horticulture will remain eligible from 1 July 2007 for an $800 tool kit and up to $1000 to cover course fees associated with their apprenticeship training in the first and second year.

The Apprentice Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture have been undersubscribed and therefore the cost of these incentives will be met from within existing resources.

Consistent with our commitments, agricultural and horticultural apprentices will be able to apply for the same incentives they were previously eligible for through the mainstream apprenticeship incentive program.

The Rudd Government is committed to better targeting government funding to areas of skills shortage as part of our fight against inflation.

The Apprentice Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture were established by the previous Government in July 2007 and fall outside of the existing apprenticeship incentive system that is based on providing assistance to apprentices in skills shortage areas.

For more information on Apprenticeship Incentives contact the Agri-Foods Industry Skills Council on 02 6163 7200 or via email reception@agrifoodskills.net.au